How long should items be boiled to eliminate bedbugs? - briefly
Boil infested items for a minimum of five minutes at a rolling boil (100 °C) to ensure all life stages of the pest are killed. Extending the time to ten minutes provides added safety against any resistant eggs.
How long should items be boiled to eliminate bedbugs? - in detail
Boiling is one of the few non‑chemical treatments that reliably kills all life stages of Cimex lectularius. The lethal temperature for bed bugs is 45 °C (113 °F), but exposure at this temperature must be sustained for several minutes. Practical boiling, which reaches 100 °C (212 °F), shortens the required exposure dramatically.
- Minimum duration: 5 minutes at a rolling boil eliminates eggs, nymphs, and adults on most fabrics and hard items.
- Safety margin: Extending the time to 10 minutes provides a buffer against uneven heating or insulated pockets within the material.
- Item size: Small objects (e.g., socks, utensils) can be fully immersed and heated uniformly; larger items (e.g., blankets) should be divided or folded to ensure every layer contacts boiling water.
Materials that degrade at high temperature—synthetic fibers, adhesives, electronics, or delicate plastics—should not be subjected to boiling. For such items, alternative heat‑based methods (e.g., professional steam treatment at 100 °C for 30 seconds) or freezing at –18 °C (0 °F) for at least 4 days are recommended.
When boiling, follow these precautions:
- Use a stainless‑steel pot large enough to submerge the item completely.
- Maintain a vigorous boil throughout the entire exposure period; intermittent simmering reduces efficacy.
- Wear heat‑resistant gloves to prevent burns when removing items.
- Allow objects to air‑dry on a clean surface; avoid re‑contamination by placing them on the floor or near infested areas.
In summary, immersing items in water at a full boil for 5–10 minutes destroys bed‑bug populations, provided the material can withstand the temperature and the water reaches every surface. Adjust time upward for bulky or densely packed items, and employ alternative heat or cold treatments for heat‑sensitive objects.